Italian investigators have recovered the black box from the Norman Atlantic ferry, moored in the port of Brindisi after a fatal fire at sea that killed at least 11 people.

The badly burned wreck of the car ferry that caught fire Sunday off the coast of Greece was towed to Italy for inspection. The 17-hour operation started in the Bay of Valona in Albania, where the ferry was anchored after the last survivors were rescued.

Authorities are preparing to search the ferry for more bodies and clues into what might have caused the onboard fire.

In addition to the Italian captain and the head of the company that built the ferry, two Italian crew members and two representatives of the Greek ferry line Anek, which rented the Norman Atlantic, are also being investigated.

Marine route, Ezadeen

The captain of the ferry, Argilio Giacomazzi, made his first comments to reporters Thursday, saying "we did our best, with the help of God. We did our best."

Italy has said that more than 470 people were rescued, most of them by helicopters that picked up survivors from the top deck and carried them to nearby boats.

Prosecutors fear unregistered migrants were smuggled in cars and trucks on board of the ship and might have perished in the flames and smoke.